On This Day In Judy Garland’s Life And Career – March 8

“I’ve always wanted to do a picture with Judy Garland. We’ve done a lot of radio programs and Army shows together, and I think she’s the greatest female talent in town. As a matter of fact, I think she’s the greatest talen, male or female.” – Bing Crosby, 1954

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March 8, 1940: The news broke about the recent plot to kidnap Judy.

Two male “fans” were caught by the police before they were able to get to Judy’s home. Obviously, there were crazed Garfreaks long before the Internet! 🙂

This kidnapping plot generated the first FBI file on Judy, Case #7-3071. The second case, #9-7966, was opened a year later after MGM received a questionable letter sent to Judy. A third was opened in the spring of 1968, #87-99683, addressing the issue of two rings that Judy claimed had been stolen from her.

March 8, 1944:Meet Me In St. Louis filming continued on the “Interior Dining Room” set. Time called: 10 a.m.; Judy arrived at 10:40 a.m. (but was not ready); dismissed: 5:40 p.m.

March 8, 1945: Filming continued on The Harvey Girls. Time called: 11 a.m. The assistant director’s reports note: “Judy Garland had an 11 a.m. call; she phoned from her dressing room at 10:50 and asked whether we needed her. Assistant director told her we would phone her when needed. At 11:15 Assistant Director phoned her and told her she would be needed for 1 p.m.; then changed it to 1:30 call; she was ready at 2:11.” Dismissed: 6:05 p.m.

March 8, 1947: Columnist Erksine Johnson wasn’t too happy about the casting of Judy in Annie Get Your Gun. Johnson also mentioned that Gene Kelly was going to “do an intricate dance number atop a cargo crate as it’s swung by a huge crane from ship to wharf” in The Pirate. Kelly did swing from a crate in the final cut of the film, but it was not part an intricate dance number.

On this day at MGM, Judy had the day off because she was not on call and no work was scheduled for The Pirate.

March 8, 1949: Judy’s second day of work on her next film, Annie Get Your Gun. Judy was in MGM Rehearsal Hall A for song rehearsals (noted as “Rehearsal #1”) with co-star Howard Keel. She was due on set at 11 a.m.; arrived at 11:15 a.m.; dismissed at 4:45 p.m. Songs rehearsed: “Anything You Can Do” and “They Say It’s Wonderful.”

March 8, 1951: Judy recorded another appearance on “The Bing Crosby Show” which was broadcast from Hollywood by CBS Radio on March 21, 1951. Crosby always recorded his shows two weeks ahead of the broadcast date.

Judy sang “Carolina In The Morning” and with Crosby, “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You When You Know I’ve Been A Liar All My Life?” which Judy was originally going to perform in Royal Wedding. She was taken off the film before any pre-recording had been done. This is the closest we’ll get to hear how she might have performed the song in the film.

March 8, 1961: The first day of filming on Judgment at Nuremberg at the Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Judy spent eleven days filming her scenes through March 19th.

Photos provided by Kim Lundgreen. Thanks, Kim!

March 8, 1964: “The Judy Garland Show” “Episode Twenty-Three” aired on CBS-TV. The show was taped on February 21, 1964, at CBS Television City, Stage 43, Hollywood.

The theme of the show was “Songs From The Movies.” Judy sang: “Once In A Lifetime” and “I Feel A Song Coming On” (medley); “If I Had A Talking Picture Of You” and “Toot, Toot, Tootsie” (medley); “Dirty Hands, Dirty Face”; “Love Of My Life”; “The Boy Next Door”; “On The Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe”; “Alexander’s Rag Time Band”; “You’re Nearer”; “Steppin’ Out With My Baby”; “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows”; “The Man That Got Away”; “Be A Clown” and a reprise of “Once In A Lifetime.”

March 8, 1966: Judy canceled a scheduled return to “The Andy Williams Show” due to a case of laryngitis. She had flown home to Los Angeles from New York, arriving the day before. The show was planned for taping on March 11 and airing on April 4. She would have received a fee of $7,500. Also on this day, a sheriff’s attachment was placed on her Rockingham home. Though the repossession of the home was avoided, Judy’s financial affairs were at an all-time low By June 1966: her assets – only $12,163.29; her liabilities – $122,001.08, which included 120 creditors; this amount does not include the $00,000 she owed the IRS. Judy rehired her business manager from the mid 1950s, Morgan Maree, Jr., who worked out a monthly expenses list for Judy; $600.00 for automobiles; $700.00 for her house payment (mortgage); $3,000.00 for monthly staff salaries; $3,718 monthly retainer for Bauter, Erwin, and Schwab (Judy’s law firm); $833.33 for Maree’s monthly fee; $1,283.88 for Guy McElwaine & Associates, public relations; and $3,000.00 for Sid Luft (as part of the divorce settlement).